Latest information on the new
iPhone 6 and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s benefits.

1

Table of Contents
PROJECT X REVEALED
Inside look at the story behind
Project X, interviews with the
actors and safe college partying
tips you should know.

5

DOUBLE DARE
A feature on the top places for
zipling, skydiving, bungee jumping, etc.
A special on ziplining.

20

HOTTEST COLLEGE
GET-AWAY SPOTS

16

A list of the top 50 get-away locations
all over the world including places
such as Morocco, NYC, Nappa Valley
and more!

28

WAIT FOR THE BAIT
Current tips to keep your dating
life fresh and keep your love interest
reeled in.

ARE WE THERE YET?
Top places for college students
to enjoy spring break along with
tips to stay safe where ever you
travel.

STUDY SESH

iGOT UPDATED

43

30 MONEY SAVING TIPS

WAVE HIGH
A look into the life of surfer
Greg Long and his obstacles that
he faced.

DID YOU POST THAT?

33
37

50

54

60

PROJECT X
REVEALED

While "The Lorax" was crushing the box office this weekend, another new film was not-so-quietly quietly
racking up both major money ($20.7 million) and controversy: "Project X," which, with its story about a
teenage beer bash gone totally out of control, is about as far from Dr. Seuss as you can get.

8

STORY

AUG/15

But while there's no doubt that "Project X" is poised to become a hit, there is one burning question many
fans have: Is the film based on the true story of Australian party icon Corey Delaney? Join us as we attempt to answer that question with our latest piece of hard-hitting investigative journalism, "Project X":
Fact ... or Fiction?

9

FACT OR
FITCION

10

AUG/15
Fact: Back in 2008, Delaney,
who was then just 16 years old,
gained worldwide attention by
throwing a party while his parents were out of town. That's not
so unusual, of course; but after
he and his two buddies decided
to post their address on MySpace, the power of social media
blew the party up big time. By
the end of the shindig, over 500
strangers had arrived, leading
to a wild bash so out of control
that riot police were eventually
called in to quell the commotion.
Fiction: While it's true that
Delaney's party ended up being
a little more wild than most -chances are you didn't see TV
news crews at your bat mitzvah -- the specific craziness in
"Project X" came mostly from
the demented mind of "21 Jump
Street" and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the
World" screenwriter Michael
Bacall. Stuffing a midget in an
oven and setting the house on
fire might be this year's hottest
new party games, but Delaney
and company didn't have anything to do with it.
Fact: One of the most prominent aspects of "Project X" is
the fact that it was filmed as a
"found footage" movie, with
events staged to appear as
though they are YouTube clips
and cell-phone videos in order
to seem more authentic. And for
once this sort of conceit is more
authentic, because Delaney did
in fact become a worldwide
viral sensation after footage of
an televised interview he conducted with an Australian news

anchorman went global. The
clip hit the web before Delaney
had even told his parents about
the party. Here's hoping their
iPhone came with a built-in
defibrillator.
Fiction: As soon as the first
trailers for "Project X" hit the
web, critics and movie buffs
began pointing out the similarities between the movie and
Delaney's party; just Google it
and you'll come up with dozens
of sites claiming "Project X"
was based on that crazy night.
But Bacall and producer Todd
Phillips haven't been nearly so
clear about things, with neither
of them giving the theory much
credence in their many, many
interviews on the subject. Bacall
merely says that Phillips came to
him with the idea, while Phillips talks more about wanting
to capture the feel -- and power
-- of the viral sensation than
Delaney's party vibe.
Fact: Protestations aside, it
should be noted that Phillips
is no stranger to making this
kind of film, having previously
brought the "Hangover" franchise into the world. It's true
that Delaney's party pre-dated
the original "Hangover," but
pundits who have labeled "Project X" a "teen 'Hangover'" aren't
far from wrong. It's hard to believe that Phillips wouldn't have
come across Delaney's YouTube
video while doing research for
one of these films.
Fiction: Whether or not the
events "Project X" was directly
based on Delaney's party, one
thing can be agreed upon: None

of the characters in the film are
nearly as interesting as Delaney
himself. Delaney's signature
moment came during the live
news interview when, after
being badgered by the anchor to
apologize and take off his sunglasses, he said he was sorry but
refused to remove the shades.
"Nah, I'll leave these on. I like
'em." Suck it, authority!
Fact: Thanks to its surprisingly strong opening weekend,
"Project X," which cost just $12
million to make, is already a hit.
And much of that success can
be chalked up to, you guessed
it, the power of social media,
which makes it even more
ironic than the mainstream
media seems to totally hate
the movie. "Project X strives to
appall," reads one review from
NPR, "and it would be similarly self-deluded to pretend this
jumble of ecstasy and crotch
shots is anything other than
repulsive." That review also cites
Delaney as the film's inspiration, a sign that one thing is
certain: The more money and
outrage "Project X" generates,
the more you'll be hearing Delaney's name.
Regardless of whether it's fact
... or fiction. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re
a drinker or not, chances are,
youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll probably end up at more
than a few college parties during
your time as a student. Alcohol
consumption- whether underage or legal- is wildly popular
on college campuses across the
country, and many students say
that college parties are an integral part of the social experience. If you do decide to drink,

11

I sat down with Project X
stars Kirby Blanton and Alexis
Knapp to talk about their
experience making the film,
missing snakes at a party, high
school popularity, and who to
invite to a big house party.
Thank you for taking time to
speak with me. I really appreciate it. First off, Project X is a
very extreme party. Have you
ever been to a party like that?
Kirby Blanton: I have not. I’m
not even lying. I wish I could
say that I had. I don’t think
there is a party that’s as outrageous as that. I think that’s
why we made [Project X]. I
didn’t really party that much.
I kinda got out of high school
early because I was going to
do this whole thing so I wasn’t
partying that much. Even in
LA, when we went to house
parties and stuff there was
always the flip cups and beer
pong. I’ve done that before
but definitely not to this
extent.
I had one house party when
I was a kid. We had about 30
people and a vase broke.
KB: You gotta put the valuables under the sink or in
mom’s room and lock it.
Alexis Knapp: When I was
younger. I remember this year
when this gang of kids from
this beach town who were the
bad one. Theys came by and
trashed the place. They were
grabbing bottles and throwing them against the wall. It
was violent. Then the snake
cage broke and the snake was
loose. I was like “Everybody
stop. Get the snake! We have

12

to find the snake!” I actually
sold that snake to the owner
of the house because I worked
at a pet store.
KB: So it had a little sentimental value
AK: Plus I had about fifteen
snakes at home because I was
breeding them. Then there
was another party I had at
my house when my mom was

I noticed the next day that
when I went to the computer there was a picture frame
in the seat. How did that get
there? I followed the trail and
there was a little destruction
and things falling over, then
boom he was in a corner way
at the top. Snakes are sick. He
got himself all the way to the
top.

STORY
How much fun was it on set
making Project X?
KB: It was a lot of fun. We obviously got worn out because
we’re working 12-14 hour
days, but all of the smiles and
laughter than you see is real.
We’re all just having a good
time.
AK: It was a blast but it was
exhausting.

It felt like a very long music
video
KB: Our [Nima Nourizadeh]
does music videos most of the
time so esthetically it looked
that way.
It still felt like a film.
KB: From start to finish, it’s
non-stop action. There’s jokes
non-stop also. I literally had
to see it a couple times just to
catch it all. If you close your
eyes or sneeze, you’ll miss
something.
Was a lot of what’s in the film
improvised?
KB: The boys got to do some
improvising
AK: We had to stick to our
storylines more or less.
KB: I got to do some improv with Thomas [Thomas
Mann]. There were some little
things here and there, but we
had to stay to our storylines.
The boys got to play around
too. It was really fun
AK: I got a little more freedom to do some improv and
it was fun, but they went a different route with my character
to make her more mysterious
and less revealing with her
potty mouth.
How did you get involved in
the project?
AK: I came in pretty late in
the game. They already had
their choices basically. They
weren’t going to even seen me
and my agent kept pushing
me. Finally, the casting directors brought me in on tape
for the producers and I didn’t
think anything of it. I was
surprised that they wanted to
call me back. I had about two

AUG/15

How much fun was it on set
making Project X?
KB: It was a lot of fun. We obviously got worn out because
we’re working 12-14 hour
days, but all of the smiles and
laughter than you see is real.
We’re all just having a good
time.
AK: It was a blast but it was
exhausting.
It felt like a very long music
video
KB: Our [Nima Nourizadeh]
does music videos most of the
time so esthetically it looked
that way.
It still felt like a film.
KB: From start to finish, it’s
non-stop action. There’s jokes
non-stop also. I literally had
to see it a couple times just to
catch it all. If you close your
eyes or sneeze, you’ll miss
something.
Was a lot of what’s in the film
improvised?
KB: The boys got to do some
improvising
AK: We had to stick to our
storylines more or less.
KB: I got to do some improv with Thomas [Thomas
Mann]. There were some little
things here and there, but we
had to stay to our storylines.
The boys got to play around
too. It was really fun
AK: I got a little more freedom to do some improv and
it was fun, but they went a different route with my character
to make her more mysterious
and less revealing with her
potty mouth.
How did you get involved in
the project?

13

AK: I came in pretty late in the
game. They already had their
choices basically. They weren’t
going to even seen me and my
agent kept pushing me. Finally,
the casting directors brought me
in on tape for the producers and
I didn’t think anything of it. I was
surprised that they wanted to call
me back. I had about two more
call backs before I got it. I was
really lucky.
How much are you like your
character in the film?
KB: I think I have a lot in common with Kirby in the film. I am
a tomboy. I hang out with dudes
a lot. I can relate to being the
guys girl. The best friend who
you maybe should try and date,
but you don’t want to cross that
line. It’s a very dangerous place
to be. You don’t want to lose the
friendship, but who knows, you
might have good chemistry. I

14

feel like everybody had had that
before so it’s relatable.
People say my wife or husband is
my best friend?
KB: It’s true. Most of the people I
end up dating have started out as
my best friends. If you don’t have
that, you aren’t going to have
much to grow on.

AK: From the character
you see in the film, our
name and our appearance. That’s about it. I
was not the hot popular
girl in school. All those
girls were sluts.

KB: That’s how they got popular.
[laughs] I’m just saying.
High school takes place in a little
fish bowl where there are very
few avenues to choose. I wasn’t a
jock. I was funny and got along
with everybody.

going to LA off and on when I
started high schools and the girls
didn’t like that. I wasn’t bragging
about it. Girls are competitive I
guess.
People want to forget the awkwardness of high school.
KB: We’re going to bring it to
light. [laughs] The boys in Project X aren’t so awkward. They’re
more inappropriate which makes
it awkward. Thomas is kind of
quiet so he feels uncomfortable
when they start talking about
stuff.
Was there anything in Project X
that reminded you of your high
school experience?
AK: I was never at a party where
a little person jumped out of an
oven and punched someone in
the balls. That would’ve been
sweet. That was my favorite part.
A little person with a snake
would have been cooler.

AUG/15
“Wait a minute. Don’t let them
get you.” Then I hit ignore on
FaceBook.
Do you have a favorite scene in
Project X?
KB: I liked the last scene a lot. I
think it’s really special.
When Thomas goes back to
school?
KB: Yeah. He’s getting the notoriety that’s he’s always wanted, but
I’m still pissed at him. He’s got to
fix that.
AK: My character wasn’t a very
sentimental character in the film
so I can’t say a personal scene of
mine. When the midget hit the
girl in the crotch and she went
down [laughs] that was it for
me. That was epic. I think we’ve
all been there. Have you been
kicked in the crotch? I have.
KB: Nobody has kicked me in
the crotch bone [laughs]
It happened to me during flag
football.
AK: I grew up with brothers and
we would beat the [expletive] out
of each other all day.
KB: At one point my mom gave
me a long talk about doing that
because my brother might not
be able to have babies. [laughs].
What does that have to do with
anything? Then I learned the
whole anatomy thing and I got it.
My favorite scene in Project X is
towards the end when Thomas is
talking to his dad.
KB: That’s a great scene. His dad
also feels for him. He was probably that same kid in high school
who wanted to be the man, but
couldn’t’ find out how to do it.
He kind of understands even
though he’s got to clean it all up,
but he gets it.

AK: That’s a pretty cool dad
not to lock his kid up in the
basement for the rest of his life
[laughs]. That’s what I’d do.
What do you think moviegoers
will enjoy the most in Project X?
KB: The perspective of the way
it’s shot.
It’s like you’re in the party
KB: Or you’re watching it secretively.
AK: I think you know what the
boys will like the most. Boobies.
Boys always like that
KB: I like boobies. Boobies are
cool. They jump up and down.
There are lots of boobies.
There’s been a big social media
push with this film
KB: It’s been great. Twitter has
been great. I guess Facebook too.
I’m not on Facebook but I hear
it’s just as crazy. We are trying to
promote this because we believe
in it so much. Every single day I
retweet something from Project
X or WB.
Warner Bros. Pictures tweeted
earlier if you were having a big
party, who would you invite.
Who would you invite? I have a
list.
KB: I don’t know that’s difficult
AK: Probably the same people I’d
invite to my party anyway.
I would invite my friends and a
bunch of famous people. Kanye
because I’d want him to perform…..
AK: If Steve Irwin was still alive
I’d invite him.
KB: Some comedians maybe.
To do the host duties.
KB: Yes. Both Jonathan Brown
and Oliver Cooper are stand up
comedians before they did Project X. They still do stand up and

15

they still do Funnyordie videos.
I’d also have a bunch of pretty people.
KB: We had some really good looking extras. I couldn’t point out
one that wasn’t bad looking.
Even the midget
KB: He was in Pirates of the Caribbean. He’s huge [laughs]. We
had some really featured extras. I’m glad they were featured because they worked as hard as us and were paid much less. It’s cool
because they’re actually in the film. It makes it seem like an actual
party
What happened to that neighborhood?
KB: It wasn’t a real neighborhood
AK: It was a Warner Bros Ranch.
KB: That was at a studio in Burbank. It has a rural area where they
shoot Pretty Little Liars and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Both of these shows are ABC Family shows.
AK: It’s right next to the fountain at the begging of Friends.
KB: We go into this studio that’s use to doing ABC Family shows
and we do a hard R movie that basically burns down the whole
neighborhood. We showed them what’s up.
As a guy, Project X is your dream.
KB: Thomas is a happy kid. He’s smiling at the end.
He got to kiss the girl of his dreams, Alexis, and the girl he likes,
Kirby.
AK: His punishments weren’t really that bad. It was pretty worth it.
I can’t wait to see what the next one is.

16

STORY

AUG/15

17

18

AUG/15

On

the movie screen, we see our
hero (who looks like he couldn't balance his
checkbook) as he suddenly realizes that the
nearby crossbow equipped with line-shooting
capability/ telephone wire/clothesline could propel
him quickly from the top of the steep slope to the
bottom of the canyon, where the bad guys/pretty
girl/bad pretty girls are. He drapes his jacket across
the wire, holds on tightly and down the wire he goes.
The trip is so fast that the viewer only has a split second
to wonder: Does that really work?
A zip line is, at its most simple, a cable that starts at a
higher point than it ends. Using the natural decline of the
slope, a person or cargo can travel down the wire on a pulley
system that minimizes friction to help the rider accelerate.
In the next section, we'll talk more about how a plain old wire
can support the weight of -- and provide a ride for -- a gigantic
person. Or, for that matter, how gigantic a person it can support.
And if you're able and willing, you can use a zip line pretty much
anywhere -- provided you have some serious guts and a willingness
to ignore your better instincts about the science of racing down a
thin wire at speeds up to 100 miles (161 kilometers) per hour. But
whatever part of the world you're in (or flying over, for that matter),
learn the parlance: In Australia they're flying foxes, in South Africa
they're foefie (sometimes written and pronounced "foofy") slides, while
Costa Rica generally calls zip line adventures canopy tours.
Although a growing industry for zip lines exists among adventure travel
tours and eco-tourism, you might be surprised to know the first modern
group that used zip lines for utilitarian purposes in the past consists of people with a decidedly less reckless reputation than you'd imagine.
The reality of the height and speed at which I was traveling didn't hit me until
almost halfway through the zip-lining course. Joel Hunt, my 23-year-old guide,
told me that the fourth and highest line -- the one I was about to ride -- was
known as the most spine-tingling. I quickly found out why. After easing off a
wooden platform secured to a Douglas fir, I sailed through a cluster of treetops and
then watched as the ground gave way below me. Suddenly, I was 30 stories in the air,
hurtling toward a mountain, the oaks and pines and streams that litter the floor of the
San Gabriels smirking up at me, the Mojave Desert on my left, Hunt just a tiny, faraway
speck on the side of a massive cliff toward which I seemed to be careening at 45 to 65
miles per hour.

Labadee, Haiti Royal Caribbean You’ll have to head to Royal Caribbean’s private Haitian island to try out the longest overwater zip line in
the world. Starting 500 feet above the beaches of Labadee on Dragon’s
Breath Rock, this 2,600-foot zipline glides you over the turquoise waters of Buccaneers’ Bay at speeds of 40 to 50 mph, landing you safely on
the soft white sand on the other side. Price: $94

Angkor, Cambodia Flight of the Gibbon There aren’t many places in the world
where you can combine a zip line adventure with a history lesson. Opened this
June, the brand-new Flight of the Gibbon is perfectly situated for both in the
Angkor Archaeological Park, a 154-square-mile UNESCO World Heritage Site
containing the famed Angkor Wat temple. The course boasts ten zip lines, four
sky bridges, and 21 platforms high up in the trees, from which you’ll be able to
spot reintroduced gibbons. Price: $129

21

22

AUG/15

TOP

STORY

COLLEGE

Romantic get-aways

23

new york

New York City
Urban Retreat From uptown’s bustling avenues to the quiet, cobblestoned streets of downtown, New
York is a study in contrasts. The greatest challenge is deciding where to stay. With its fireplace suites,
Lafayette House (doubles from $395) feels like your own pied-à-terre. Uptown, On the Ave (doubles
from $199) has a modern flair, including Italian black-marble bathrooms. Pay a visit to the restored
Plaza Hotel, where you can browse for art books at Assouline or try on vintage-inspired baubles
at Kenneth Jay Lane, in the newly expanded shopping area. At the spruced-up Oak Bar, the wood
paneling still glows warmly and the Central Park views are as stirring as always. Three blocks south,
check out the skyline from the Peninsula New York’s new rooftop bar, Salon de Ning. The vibe: 1930’s
Shanghai, with daybeds and mandarin-orange–flavored cocktails. For dinner, Café Cluny (dinner for
two $90) is a portal to a Gallic village, where waitresses wear Audrey Tautou pigtails. End the evening
at Smith & Mills, a tiny TriBeCa boîte in a former carriage house. The cozy banquettes can accommodate only a dozen-odd patrons. Bright lights, big city?From this vantage point, New York feels like a
small town

savannah

2

1

Whidbey island

3

On the Waterfront Though it’s only a 20-minute ferry ride from from Seattle suburb Mukilteo, Whidbey
Island feels like the Pacific Northwest’s last frontier—a lost-in-time place of towering redwoods and sparkling coves overlooking Puget Sound. Take refuge at the 28-room Inn at Langley (doubles from $195), in
Langley, a pint-size town on the island. Each suite has a Jacuzzi with views of the evergreen-lined Saratoga Passage waterway (and the gray whales that swim through in spring). In the historic center, Lowry-James Rare Prints & Books sells vintage maps and Audubon lithographs; the Clyde Theatre, a 1937
movie house, screens the classics and contemporary films. Drive 30 miles north to Ebey’s Landing to walk
the coastal bluffs, or make your way to Coupeville, known for its Penn Cove mussels, which no-frills Toby’s Tavern (lunch for two $22) serves right.

On the Waterfront If only every city planner had the foresight of Savannah’s 18th-century founder, James
Oglethorpe. His legacy—21 garden-filled public squares ringed by antebellum town houses—is a model
of Southern grace. At the Ballastone Inn (doubles from $235), an Italianate mansion three blocks from
the waterfront, rooms have canopied poster beds and mahogany armoires. Or base yourself at the newly
opened Avia (doubles from $189), on landmark Ellis Square. Browse for jewelry and handbags by upand-coming artists at ShopSCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design’s boutique, and don’t miss the
Jepson Center for the Arts, a contemporary-art space by Israeli architect Moshe Safdie. There are dozens
of laid-back restaurants in town, but one of the best remains Desposito’s (dinner for two $40), where
tablecloths are made from newspapers and the steamed oysters and Low Country basket—shrimp, potatoes, corn—are ideal for two.

25

miami

4

Urban Retreat Rent a vintage tail-fin Caddy and
cruise north on Collins Avenue to refuel at 14th
Street’s La Sandwicherie, a tiny joint squeezed between a gas station and a tattoo parlor. Locals favor
the pâté on baguette with a smoothie for beach excursions. Check into the Standard, Miami, for a little
peace and quiet—the hotel hugs the calm waters of
Biscayne Bay and is a comfortable distance from the
sparkly lights of South Beach. Get a jump on the next
trendy neighborhood with an architectural walking
tour of MiMo or just do a self-guided drive to see the
atomic age icons along Biscayne Boulevard. All this
groovy style inspiring you to go retro? Set the alarm
early to shop for great vintage looks at the Lincoln
Road Mall Sunday flea market.

5

BAR HARBOR

NortheRn
cALIFORNIA

6

On the Waterfront North of San Francisco, past Muir
Woods, the Marin roads wind through Ewok forest that opens into deer-, sheep-, and cow-studded
farmland and then magically folds back into dense
forest, until eventually you come to the Pacific spread
out under the cliff—as if someone has tried to cram
all of America into one place. Check into Manka’s
Inverness Lodge, which specializes in awesome food
in the the dining room, and coziness (fireplaces,
flannel curtains, shelves of old books, and an arkful
of taxidermied animals) in the guest rooms. The next
morning, explore Point Reyes Station, an Old West–
meets-crunchy yuppie town lined with cutesy storefronts. When the lodge’s extensive breakfast finally
wears off, load up on picnic supplies at the Cowgirl
Creamery, inside Tomales Bay Foods, and have a
picnic table at Dillon Beach, a 150-year-old summer
resort and surfing cove

On the Waterfront Down east Maine is
dotted with private islands—Oar, Clapboard,
Chanterelle—where couples can play Yankee
castaways. One of our favorites is the fouracre Spectacle Island, a short boat ride from
Bar Harbor. The best time to go is June to
September. Book Spectacle Island Estate, a
three-bedroom cottage on this spruce-covered spot in Frenchman Bay, well ahead of
time. The master suite has spectacular sea
views, a four-poster bed, and a whirlpool. The
wood-burning fireplace in the living room is
cozy on foggy nights, while the wraparound
porch makes for good afternoon bird-watching, when gulls and osprey swoop along the
shoreline. Acadia National Park on Mount
Desert Island offers rugged hiking trails (or
walk along the beach and watch the lobster boats). The island rental also includes a
seaworthy 27-foot powerboat manned by a
licensed captain. Catch the boat back to Bar
Harbor and have a seafood cioppino with
fresh-caught fish or jumbo baked lobsters at
La Bella Vita, in the Harborside Hotel.

STORY

AUG/15

27

PALM SPRINGS

7

GRANADA =

Desert Escape Two hours east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs has long attracted Hollywood power couples, from Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner in the 50’s to Brad and
Angelina. The newest draw for A-listers?The eight casitas at the year-old, Moroccan-inspired Colony Palms Hotel (doubles from $339; casitas from $419), with private patios,
outdoor bathtubs, and quick access to the Purple Palm restaurant, for a poolside meal
of Mediterranean-inspired dishes. There’s more to do in Palm Springs than lounge by
the pool: in a single afternoon you can hike through canyons and, after an eight-minute tram ride up Mount San Jacinto, toss snowballs in a fairy-tale alpine forest. Head
downtown to browse the Midcentury Modern furniture shops along North Palm
Canyon Drive. One of the best is the new Trina Turk Residentia, stocked with vintage
pieces and pillows upholstered in Turk’s signature graphic prints.

8

AUG/15

vico equense, italy=

STORY
Secret Village A crenellated castle, pinkwashed clifftop church, and pebbled beach
make Vico Equense perhaps the most
dramatic—though surprisingly undiscovered—village on the Sorrento Coast. On the
main coastal road, Annamaria Cuomo and
Salvatore De Gennaro serve cured meats
and cheeses at their epicurean market La
Tradizione (lunch for two $40). At Torre del
Saracino (lunch for two $190), chef Gennaro
Esposito creates innovative dishes, such as
risotto with cod and figs, in a seventh-century tower. Stay just outside the village at the
Hotel Capo La Gala (doubles from $260),
a stone-studded cliffside lodge. The hotel
has a nautical theme: porthole windows
and hurricane lamps in the lobby, blue-andwhite guest rooms accented with miniature
model boats. Book one of the nine Classic
rooms, and take your breakfast (cappuccino
and croissants) on the roomy balcony overlooking the Bay of Naples.

9

Urban Retreat The ancient Alhambra. The narrow Moorish streets. Both are within walking distance of Palacio de los Patos, a 19th-century property redesigned with
sparkling white modern interiors. Book a room in the old palacio, where contemporary
touches (mirrored tables and mod-patterned rugs) are mixed with original detailing
(elaborate wood moldings and mosaics). Don’t miss a meal at the hotel’s ambitious Senzone restaurant. Granada is full of shrill souvenir shops. For home furnishings, as well
as jewelry, tiles, and other crafts, cut to the chase at Bazar Pazouki and El Zoco Nazarí.

29

WAIT
W
WA
AIT for the
AIT

B
A
I
T

Watch out. While dating in college is different than dating in high school, it’s also different than dating
after college. So before you head off to the dorms expecting to be whisked off to a romantic dinner by a
guy every Friday night, consider this: In 2001, the Independent Women’s Forum conducted a nationwide
survey of 1,000 college women and found that less than half had been asked out on six or more dates
during their entire time in college.
That’s not to say that men and women avoid each other all throughout college. It’s just that, these days,
college dating doesn’t have strict rules like it did in the olden days or in high school. When you’re in high
school and a boy likes a girl, he asks her to “go out” with him (they don’t actually need to go anywhere)
and suddenly they are in a serious, deep relationship. Not so in college. In college, there are very few dating rules, and this can be bewildering. Keep these five tips in mind regarding relationships in college, and
you can save yourself quite a bit of confusion.

COLUMN

AUG/15

1. Go out on a limb. Dating in college
will require a bit more courage than
dating in high school. In high school,
you pretty much know the story on any
guy or girl you are interested in. While
making the first move is always tough,
it’s easier when you know all about
the person’s friends, old relationships
and overall reputation. In college, you
may have to take a chance on that cute,
quirky girl in your art class without
knowing anything about her. Or you
may have seen that guy around everywhere for the past few months but
know nothing about him … except that
he is a total player, according to your
best friend’s brother’s professor’s niece’s
sister. The point is, you will know less
about where these people have been
and what they have been up to. The nice
thing is, that means you have the same
kind of mystery. Take advantage of this,
and take a chance on a stranger!
2. Get creative when it comes to where
you look for dates. In college, most people feel like getting dressed up and going out to clubs on a weekend is the best
approach to finding a potential relationship. This is usually not the case. Clubs
provide a loud, dirty, crowded environment where keeping up with the friends
you came with is difficult enough  you
can forget about meeting anyone new.
Instead, hit up the local bookshop one
afternoon and see who you spot there 
you’ll already have a conversation starter if you are both interested in reading.
Or ask the cute girl in your math class
to a study session. And remember …

31

3. A “study session” can be a date in disguise. Because there are so few dating
rules in college, don’t expect a guy to
approach you out of nowhere and say,
“You’re so beautiful. I simply must take
you out to dinner next weekend. Wear
something fancy.” Don’t assume that
someone isn’t interested in you if they
are just asking you to study or take a
walk on campus. In fact, if a guy or girl
is making the effort to ask you to hang
out alone, it’s probably a good sign.
Along the same lines, remember …
4. College kids have no money. If the
guy you’re interested in wants to go out
to dinner and a movie but doesn’t automatically pick up the entire bill, don’t
be offended or disheartened. In college,
the bills for many casual dates are split
or picked up alternating. So if someone
asks you to do something cheap, free or
asks you to split the bill, it doesn’t mean
he doesn’t like you.

32

5. Beware of getting too close too soon.
Your new freedom in college is enhanced by technological advances that
allow split-second contact at any time of
day or night – and a 2am text message
isn’t usually the recipe for romance.
Just because you might be looking for
a relationship doesn’t mean that everyone else is. There are plenty of college
students who consider this a time to
sow their wild oats, regardless of other
people’s feelings. They probably aren’t
bad people, but their intentions regarding you, sex and relationships might not
be what you’re looking for. Be careful of
getting too close with someone under
the wrong circumstances, or you might
end up in a situation
Of course, like I said, college dating
has no rules. That means that these
five guidelines can easily be broken,
bent and stretched. The biggest thing
to remember when looking for dates in
college is to be flexible and open to new
possibilities. Or maybe just stop looking
 after all, that’s when m

STORY

AUG/15

33

34

STORY

AUG/15

AK
E
R
B
ING

SPR

It is that time of year again. College students from all across the country converge on sandy beaches in
Florida, or California for a week of sun, fun, and partying. Spring break—a time for rest and relaxation
away from the rigors of college life- can be a great time. It can also lead to some tough life lessons if a
student isn’t careful.

Stick together. If you are headed out to a vacation spot with a group of friends, it is important that you all stick together. It is easy to lose
track of a friend when out at a party. Did they
leave the party with a stranger? Did they go
to drive even though they’ve had too much to
drink? Did they walk off alone?
It is very important to keep an eye on your
friends. No one wants to be a babysitter, but
in the end it is better to be able to account for
your friend’s whereabouts than not.
Don’t drink and drive. This saying has been
said so much that it may seem like a cliché.
Still, many students get behind the wheel of
a car, or get into a car with someone who has
been drinking. Each year millions of students
drive while under the influence of alcohol or
other drugs, this according to College Drinking Prevention.
Just as serious is texting while driving. It
is vitally important that when out driving,
whether in a town you are not familiar with
on spring break, or at home, that you are alert
and free from distractions.
Keep an eye on your money. It is a horrible
feeling to go on vacation and have your money
and credit cards stolen. Too often students do
not keep a close enough watch on their money
at retailers you are familiar with. Credit card

Keep the amount of cash you carry with you
to a minimum. Don’t take your entire vacation allotment with you out to the beach or
to a club. This is just a bad situation waiting
to happen. Instead try putting some money
in various places so that if by any chance you
lose some or it’s stolen, you still have more
elsewhere.
Have safe sex. Let’s face it; hook ups sometimes happen during Spring Break. Just like
at all other times, it is necessary to protect
yourself.
Avoid alcohol poisoning. Most people don’t
know they are being poisoned by alcohol until
it is too late. A lot of students drink from the
time the wake up in the morning until the
wee hours of the next day. Many students are
unaware that consuming too much alcohol or
even passing out from drinking can lead to
death. Please take a moment to read about the
dangers of alcohol poisoning here.
Spring break should be one of the most fun
parts of a college career. Follow these tips to
be sure that not only do you have a great time,
but when classes start up again, you will be
there all in one piece.

35

Now, here’s the list you’ve been waiting for
– check out the top ten Spring Break party
schools of 2014:

6. Colorado Mountain College

Perhaps sand isn’t your Spring Break style.
That’s ok, there are Spring Breakers that prefer
snow and ski over sun and sand! If so, Colorado
Mountain College (CMC) is the place to be.
One of the western Colorado’s eleven campuses
is located in Breckenridge, where world-class
skiers gather for the slopes.
The Breckenridge campus focuses on associate
degree programs; however, they do award bachelor’s degrees, as of 2012.
CMC’s associate programs are designed to send
graduates to one of the state’s four-year degree
institutions so, when the party’s over on the
slopes; you’ll have a great education, too.
5. University of California – San Diego
If surf and sand are your thing, then look no
further. University of California, San Diego,
calls La Jolla, CA, home and home is where the
students go to surf, scuba dive and soak up the
sun.
The university is known as being a top research
spot for sea and space studies, based on its
prime location, but also has plenty of other
options available under the sun.
San Diego may be number nine on the list due
to the laid back lifestyle but, depending on
your location, it may become your number one
spot this Spring Break. It sounds like you won’t
regret it!

4. Tulane University

What else are students attending Tulane University, located in New Orleans, LA, going to do
over Spring Break, if not party hardy? After all,
Spring Break occurs just as the Mardi Gras celebrations have ended, so they need something
else to focus on.
Of course, students at Tulane focus on their
studies too – after all, it wouldn’t be ranked
among the Top National Universities, according
to U.S. News and World Report, in the United
States if they didn’t!

3. University of Puerto Rico

36If you have the option, why not make it an is-

land getaway this Spring Break? Still a U.S. destination, the University of Puerto Rico (UPR)
is sure to be a hot spot this Spring Break. If you
fall in love with Puerto Rico on Spring Break,
you can apply at the university.
According to Wikipedia, UPR “has the largest
and most diverse academic offerings in Puerto
Rico and the Caribbean, with 472 academic
programs and 32 doctoral programs.” So you’ll
likely have more options than you’ll know what
to do with.
Plus, offering sun, sand and poolside, parties –
you’ll feel like you’re abroad on Spring Break,
but you aren’t. How exotic!

2. University of Florida

Florida has always been a top Spring Break
destination – based on location, affordability
and, well, parties! As a result, the University of
Florida, in Gainesville, FL, holds the number six
slot.
Of course it was going to make the list – with
beaches galore and enough sun to go around for
all students, what else could any Spring Breaker
want in a party school?
But, the school has a lot more to offer than just
Spring Break. In fact, it ranked 17th among all
public national universities in 2013 within U.S.
News and World Report rankings in addition to
consistently ranking amongst the top 100 universities worldwide. Sounds like Spring Break is
just icing on top of the cake!

1. Arizona State University

The desert heat isn’t the only thing that makes
Arizona State University a hot spot this Spring
Break – it’s the parties that land this location at
the middle of the list, too. Who cares if there’s
no surf, Arizona still lets Spring Breakers party
like it’s hot!
The university is known as hot spot, too – just
in a different way. Not only is it a national
space-grant institution, it’s also the largest
public university in the United States, based on
enrollment.
With five campuses, organized into one single
institution, students are able to choose from
five different campus locations: Tempe, Lake
Havasu, northwest Phoenix, eastern Mesa and

STORY

AUG/15

37

STUDY
38

STORY

AUG/15

h
s
e
s
Finding the proper balance between school work and
external activities is very important

New college students face a wide range of challenges during their first year in school. They face challenges such as being away from home for the first time, having to be self motivated in their school work
and have to make an entire new set of friends. These make up for difficult times during the freshman
year of any new student. These challenges, if not addressed properly, can result in depression and loneliness in their personal life and failure in their academic life.
ating a good environment to study and complete assignments, coming up with good time management
techniques in order to complete your school work and have time for some fun, and many more.

39

Don't cram

1

According to a recent research study published by the
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), students who forego sleep to pull "all-nighters" and cram
prior to a big test are more likely to perform poorly
the following day. Ample sleep is critical for academic success. Students should keep a consistent study
schedule leading up to their test and get a good night's
sleep to ensure a great result.

2

Jump around

40

Seek out effective study tools

Whether it's using flashcards or re-reading passages in a text or e-book
all students have their own way of assessing their preparedness prior
to a test. However, there are tools available that make the studying pro
cess much easier, more engaging and more effective. (You can check o
McGraw-Hill LearnSmartâ&#x201E;˘, an adaptive "digital tutor" that continuous
assesses students' knowledge and skills and provides personalized reco
mendations that helps them master content over time, as well as the M

3

A majority of students naturally review material for a test
or a midterm in the order in which it was taught; that is,
going through notes in chronological order. This type of
studying, also known as "blocking," may be effective for
some, but research out of the University of South Florida
suggests otherwise. If you study "out of order," according
to the research, you are more likely to retain standalone
knowledge and are therefore able to recall information in
a randomized way, which is how many tests are designed.
Studying in sequence is restrictive, and forces you to remember content in the order in which it was studied.

k,

oout
sly
omMc-

4

STORY

Power down

AUG/15

The 21st century student is an avid "digital multi-tasker,"
capable of answering the phone, reading and sending a
text message or e-mail, and listening to music all while
preparing for a test. Though this might be considered
"the new normal," these distractions mightâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;according
to research by Stanford Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;negatively impact a
student's ability to retain and accurately recall information. While collaboration and discussion are an important part of the learning process, when it's crunch time,
students should opt for an environment that is quiet and
void of any digital disturbances.

Books, then bed
A guide on memory issued by the Academic Skills Center at Dartmouth College recommends that students should review difficult material prior to bedtime, provided that a student is mentally and physically
strong before hitting the pillow. This is because challenging information
is oftentimes easier to remember after a good night's rest, as the brain
typically consolidates facts in your memory that are freshly accessible
the next day.

Because of all the changes that are facing freshmen in college, it is extremely important that they work
hard in their studies to avoid getting off to a rocky start in college. Because work in college is more
self-directed compared to work in high school, where parents and teachers were able to keep students
focused, it is vital for students to keep focused on their school work. This includes attending classes, completing assignment and properly studying for exams.
With all of the external influences that students face in college, finding the proper balance between
school work and external activities is very important. Having fun is an important part of the college experience, but students need to focus on their academic work as well. To properly do so, students need to
develop proper study habits to give themselves the best chance for success. These habits include creating
a good environment to study and complete assignments, coming up with good time management techniques in order to complete your school work and have time for some fun, and many more.

41

42

STORY

AUG/15

43

44

AUG/15

iGot an Upgrade
How the iPhone 6 is going to benefit you.

45

Are you sitting comfortably? Good. This could take a while. The iPhone 5S is less than six months old, but rumors are gathering about
its replacement, which should – if previous versions are anything to
go by – be called the iPhone 6. Will it be bigger, or stay the same size?
Will it have standout features? Will it be joined by an iPhone 6C, or the
iWatch?
None of these questions and many more will be answered until Tim
Cook takes the stage later this year, but we can’t wait until June or September. We’re just not that patient. So, we’ve collected all the latest gossip
we’ve heard right here. We hope you enjoy.
Updated on 04-25-2014 by Andy: Added in a video showing a possible
iPhone 6 case being compared to the iPhone 5S and the Nexus 5, plus
more speculation about a curved glass screen, and another suggestion
the new phone will launch before September.
Surprise … it’s probably named iPhone 6, and it could be more expensive than ever
How long can Apple keep adding an ever-increasing number to the
name of its latest iPhone? It gave up with the iPad after two models, and
decided to add the word Air to the most recent iteration, signifying how
slim and light it had made the tablet. Depending on the specs and size
of the next iPhone(s), we could also see an iPhone Air, iPhone 6C, or
iPhone Mini.

The iPhone has always been a premium smartphone with a premium price tag, but if analyst Peter

Misek is to be believed, that tag may get even larger with the iPhone 6.
He predicts the device will be up to $100 more than previous versions.
He adds that Apple may already have network backing for the increase,
due to there being “no other game-changing devices would be released
in 2014.” Apparently, networks realise the iPhone 6 will be the only
“headline-worthy high-end phone launched this year,” and may end up
absorbing the extra cost themselves.
Statements like that are sure to irritate Android fans, and an extra $100
on the bill from Apple will inevitably annoy everyone when the time
comes, so let’s hope Misek is wrong on this one.
Bigger screens and a second iPhone 6?
Apple has made the most of a 4-inch screen for two generations (years)
now, and while it’s perfectly acceptable – go on, admit it – there’s no
denying the industry is shifting towards smartphones with considerably
larger displays. Juniper Research estimates that devices with 5+ inch
screens will see sales of 120 million by 2018, considerably more than the
20 million in 2013. Surely Apple can’t ignore the trend much longer?

46

STORY

L

eaked iPhone 6 schematics
There are two main schools of thought at the
moment. First, Apple will up the screen size
to 4.7-inches and leave it at that, while others
speculate we may get a 4.7-inch iPhone and
a 5.7-inch, or 5.5-inch iPhone/iPad hybrid.
These supposed leaked schematics from Nowhereelse.fr also point to a larger screen.
According to Chinese analyst Sun Changxu,
Apple may keep its current 1136 x 640 pixel
Retina resolution on the 4.7-inch iPhone 6.
This would see the pixel density fall to around
280ppi, way below the 326ppi seen on every
iPhone since the iPhone 4. Crucially though, it
would be above the iPad’s pixel density. Apple
bases its Retina status on viewing distance –
10-inches for the phone, 15 for the tablet – so
a larger phone screen could add a few inches
to the optimum viewing distance, and keep
it within Apple’s self-imposed parameters for
‘Retina.’
Via his Twitter account, Sonny Dickson, who
has previously leaked details about Apple
hardware, says the screen of the iPhone 6 will
have a pixel density of 389ppi. He calls the
display “Ultra-Retina,” but doesn’t mention
anything about the size or the exact resolution. Using a pixel density calculator, a screen
measuring somewhere between 5.6-inches
and 5.7-inches, with a 1080p resolution, could
potentially produce 389ppi.
iPhone 6 three models concept by Federico
Cicca
Alternatively, researchers from DisplaySearch
in Taiwan indicate Apple will give the 4.7-inch
screen iPhone 6 a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution,
resulting in a 312ppi pixel density rating. As
for the 5.7-inch hybrid, DisplaySearch says it
may have 1920 x 1080 pixels, matching just
about every 2013 high-end Android phone.
Analyst Brian Marshall, who works for ISI,
says we’ll be getting two new iPhone models
this year, one with a 4.7-inch display, and the
other with 5.5-inches, although he doesn’t
mention the possible resolution of either.

AUG/15

iPhone 6 gold concept with glass back by Martin
Hajek
An increase to 4.7 or 5.7-inches isn’t universally
agreed upon – not even close. Peter Misek says
Apple will plump for 4.8-inches, while a Wall
Street Journal reporter claimed Apple was busily
testing hybrid iPhone/iPads with 6-inch screens.
Long-time Apple rumor devotees will recall talk
of the iPhone Math (or iPhone+, as it may have
really been known), a monster-sized iPhone discussed before the announcement of the iPhone
5S.
More recently, rumors have been edging towards
the possibility of a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch iPhone being released during 2014. However, according to the Taiwan Industrial & Commercial
Times, only the model with a 4.7-inch screen
will go on sale this year. The larger iPhone,
according to the rumor, is causing problems for
Apple’s production team, and may not be ready
until September. The 4.7-inch phone is apparently scheduled for production in July.

47

48

STORY

AUG/15

Second iPhone 6 model delayed?
Rumors of Apple releasing a second iPhone model during 2014 have taken a hit. A
report from Taiwan says the larger of the two phones, rumored to have a 5.5-inch screen
and referred to as the iPhone Air, won’t be coming until 2015. This is apparently due to
Apple’s notorious quest for perfection in its designs. The problem is with the battery,
which Apple wants to be 2mm thick or less, but current technology seems to only be
able to manage about 2.8mm.
It’s an indication Apple wants the device to be very thin, without resorting to a smaller
battery. If the 5.5-inch screen size is accurate, it’ll need a lot more juice to run than the
4-inch screen fitted to an iPhone 5S. By delaying the device’s release, Apple can work
with its suppliers to overcome the technical problems.

Sapphire screens galore!
Curved screens
and new sensors
Here’s one of the crazier theories around. The next iPhone(s)
could have a screen made of sapphire, which is far more durable than any glass on the market. It’s not as implausible as you
might think, either.
The new Arizona facility could produce between 103 and 116
million 5-inch sapphire screens per year.
Almost a year ago, GT Advanced, which now has a major contract with Apple, showed us how sapphire could make smartphone screens nearly indestructible. At the time, the company
told us that if a large vendor used sapphire to scale, its price
would get cheap enough to integrate into a major product like
the iPhone 6. A $578 million contract with Apple is probably
enough to do just that. Apple is creating a facility in Arizona to
build these components
Correspondence between Apple and the U.S. Foreign Trade
Zone, revealed by 9to5Mac, shows Apple plans to put this
facility into action during February, a timescale referred to
as “aggressive” by an Apple executive. Sapphire is listed as
one of the products manufactured by the plant. While it’s not
stated the sapphire will be used to make iPhone 6 screens, the
document says “Project Cascade” will be using a, “High-tech
manufacturing process to create a critical new sub-component
of Apple Products to be used in the manufacture of consumer
electronics.”

A November Bloomberg report says that Apple is working
on new iPhone 6 models that
come with “curved glass” that
bends downward at the edges
and sensors that can detect
different levels of pressure on
the screen. The sensors would
be able to better detect a light
or heavy touch of the finger.
That report also affirms the
rumor that there will be two
new iPhone 6 models, one at
the 4.7-inch size and another
at 5.5 inches.

49

Better camera and iOS 8

There are a few rumors regarding the introduction of 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which came
to Mac computers recently, along with a 128GB storage capacity. The camera could
get an upgrade to 13-megapixels, although not everyone agrees, with others indicating the existing 8-megapixel camera will see improvements. Analysts from Nomura
Securities are saying that the iPhone 6 will have better image stabilization.

Super slim 6mm body
Will the next iPhone be much slimmer than older
models? That’s a very good question, and one which
fits in with the idea Apple may chose to name the
next model the iPhone Air. The iPhone has never been a bloater, but rumors have spread the next
generation may be much thinner than ever. Korean
news source ETNews.com quotes sources from the
Chinese IT media, who say Apple may shave 1.6mm
off the iPhone 5S’ thickness to make a 6mm iPhone 6.
A Chinese website published a picture of what it
claimed was the iPhone 6’s chassis. It looks both slim
and large, but it could also be completely fake, or not
related to the iPhone at all. Only time will tell on this
one. Following up his tweet regarding the pixel density of the iPhone 6′s screen, Sonny Dickson says the
phone’s chassis will be a mere 5.5mm thick, matching
the current world’s thinnest smartphone record holder, the Gionee Elife S5.5.
Another set of schematics, this time apparently
leaked by a Foxconn employee, show a thin device
with chamfered edges, much like the design seen on
the iPhone 5S and the iPad Air. A mock-up of an
iPhone 6 case, published by a French blog, shows a
super-thin and longer design than existing models.
Another noteworthy aspect of the case is the switch
from individual volume keys to a single rocker
switch.

50

Solar charging
Add solar charging to that indestructible
screen
Then comes solar charging screens, which we
saw demonstrated at CES this year. Though
3M and SunPartner told us that their screens
wouldn’t be ready until 2015, Matt Margolis of Seeking Alpha believes that this type
of solar screen is being built in the Arizona
facility. While he could be right, we’re uncertain this innovation will appear on the
iPhone 6, especially given the rumors of how
thin it will be. There’s little room for more
screen layers in a 6mm phone.

52

1. Buy or rent used textbooks and sell last semester’s books
back.
2. Don’t make impulse purchases.
3. Never go grocery shopping when
you’re hungry
4. Limit the number of times you eat
out monthly.
5. Cut out vices – smoking is
terrible for you and expensive.
6. Always pay bills on time to
avoid late fees.
7. If you have a credit card, pay it off as
quickly as possible. (It’s good to establish
credit, but a bad credit score follows you
everywhere.)
8. Walk, use public transportation or
ride a bike instead of having a car.
9. Live with others so you can
split rent and utilities
10. Cut out expensive cable
packages you don’t need.
11. Consider more basic phone packages
and plans or plans that include unlimited
texting with free incoming calls
12. Don’t buy the most expensive college meal
plans. Figure out what you actually consume and
get the correlating package.

53

13. Shop where they offer student discounts. There are
so many places that offer discounts to students with a
school ID.
14. Look into a campus gym versus a gym in town.
Many colleges offer memberships for free or at a reduced rate for students.
15. When planning meals, make dinner with friends
and split the cost of groceries. Often times, you’ll be
cooking too much for one person anyway!
16. Sell what you no longer use or need. There are plenty
of stores and web sites, like Poshmark and Craigslist,
where you can sell your used clothing, furniture or tech
items.
17. Don’t buy unnecessary school supplies. Why buy
cumbersome notebooks when you can type on your
laptop? It’s better for the earth anyway!
18. Don’t buy books you will only need for a short period of time – check them out from the library instead.
19. Take advantage of what your campus has to offer
in terms of activities, rather than spending money on
going out. Many campuses have an array of museums,
offer movie nights and other social events for cheaper
or, sometimes, for free.
20. Skip expensive Spring Break trips – look into alternatives, like volunteering, instead.
21. Wait to get a pet until after college – a pet can
become very expensive. Not only do you have another
mouth to feed, but veterinary bills are costly. If you love
animals, there are plenty of shelters that need volunteers.

54

STORY

AUG/15

22. Go to class. You’re paying for it and skipping is like
throwing money out the window!
23. Drink water. It’s free and better for you, anyway.
24. Make your own coffee. While coffee shops are convenient, they charge hefty prices that really add up over
time.
25. Open a savings account that earns interest. Credit
unions have fewer fees and are great for students.
26. Use a free tool, like FinAid’s Student Budget Calculator or the one offered by Mint.com, to keep track of
your finances. It’s harder to be frivolous when you see
where your money is going.
27. Never take out a loan for anything that’s unrelated to
your education.
28. Don’t buy music. Use free services like Spotify or
Pandora.

Look into class requirements
and the options for testing out of
classes. Why pay for a class you
could easily test out of?
29.

30. Consider becoming a resident advisor. Many get free
room and board.

55

WAVE
Interview with Big-Wave Surfer Greg Long
After nearly drowning, a big-wave surfer comes back
to win his sportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest title.

56

STORY

AUG/15

HIGH
57

As I was dangling from the basket of the Coast Guard helicopter, being lifted from the middle of
the ocean in huge seas after basically drowning, I said to myself, 'There’s no way. I’m done.

Thank you for this second chance at life. I don’t
need big-wave surfing anymore,' " remembers
30-year-old Greg Long. That day, he vowed he
would never surf big waves again.

On December 21, 2012, Long had just dropped into a massive 25-foot wave at Cortes Bank, 100
miles off the coast of San Diego, when fellow surfer Garrett McNamara unknowingly dropped in
on top of him, cutting him off and causing him to fall. The inflatable bladder, essentially an airbag
in the back of his wetsuit, failed to deploy when he pulled the cord that activates the CO2 cartridge. He managed to hold his breath long enough to crawl up his leash to the tail of his surfboard, but the board was still submerged in aerated water, which prevented him from catching a
breath before he blacked out. Three consecutive waves pinned him underwater. Despite his initial
reaction to the accident, not only did Long go back to riding big waves, he went on to earn the title of Big Wave World Champion less than a year later when he won the 2012-’13 Big Wave World
Tour, a yearlong competition in which the world’s top 12 big-wave surfers get as little as 72 hours
notice to buy a ticket to sanctioned big-wave competition sites around the world.

58

They surf waves a minimum of 30 feet high. Long put a lot
of thought into his decision to return to big-wave surfing,
but ultimately, he came back to the reason he started in the
first place.
"It's always been my passion to explore this, and where I really feel alive," Long says. "I wanted to find my physical and
mental potential as a human being—that was the avenue
by which I was exploring it. So I decided I was going to go
back."
"We grew up in the water," Long says of himself and his
older brother, Rusty, also a pro surfer, and sister, Heather. They were raised in San Clemente, California, by a
beach-enthusiast mother and a lifeguard father who started
taking his kids out on the front of his surfboard before they
knew how to swim. Long started surfing at ten years old.
He fell in love with the excitement and challenge of bigwave surfing. By 15, he knew he wanted to ride the biggest
waves in the world. He’s spent the second 15 years meticulously training his body and mind to do just that.
Long tracked swells obsessively. He swam, ran, or biked
every day for cardio fitness. He did breath-holding drills in
pools. Under certain conditions, he can hold his breath for
up to five minutes. He practiced yoga for strength and flexibility, and to better understand and control his thoughts
and fears.
“Everything revolved around me being physically prepared, mentally prepared, tracking
the swells, traveling, going from one place to
the next and continuing to push myself. If you
ask any of my friends or family, it was 24/7. It
literally consumed my life,” Long says.
Long’s all-consuming and thoughtful preparation earned
him gold medals at the 2003 Red Bull Big Wave Africa, at
Mavericks in 2008, at the 2009 Eddie Aikau event, the 2013
Big Wave World Tour, and more category wins at the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards than any other surfer. It also saved his life that day at Cortes Bay—from the
physical abilities and mental composure he had developed,
to the rescue team he had assembled. The same thoughtfulness now guides the way he is processing the aftermath of
the accident.
“I got right back into it thinking, Okay, I’m going to pick
up where I left off,” Long says. “And to the outside viewers,
it may seem like that’s exactly what happened. At the same
time, I will openly admit, I’m not the same person with the
same mindset that I was prior to that accident. Some days,

interviewing
greg

STORY

AUG/15

What inspired you to transition
from normal surfing to surfing big
waves?

Greg Long: Coming from a lifeguard background, when I was
younger, I probably had a confidence level in the water that exceeded [that of] other kids my age. I’d find myself, on the biggest
surf days, having so much fun. The excitement, and the thrill,
and the challenge of it just really captivated me. So, like anything
in life that you love and are passionate about, you want to continue to challenge yourself. For me, that was riding larger waves
and pushing myself to the edge of my comfort level. Next thing
I knew, I was 15 years old and I realized I want to start trying to
ride the world’s biggest waves.

You say you train mentally. What
do you mean by that?
GL: Understanding your thoughts—these ideas of fear
and doubt that you often feel when you’re out there in the
ocean when it’s at its biggest, wildest state. Learning to
understand those thoughts and emotions and what they
actually are—if you’re just reacting to certain circumstances or if there’s real validity to them

Why do you paddle in to waves rather
than getting towed in?
GL: When you’re towing in, you’re essentially eliminating the most
difficult task in big-wave riding, which is catching a wave and making
that initial drop. When you’re paddling, you’re sitting in the middle
of the lineup and in a place of imminent danger, and it’s up to you to
almost intuitively read these swells as they’re coming in and adjust
yourself only the few feet so that you can paddle that distance in a
short amount of time. You’re relying on a life’s culmination of learning
how the ocean moves. When you’re dropping in, you’re literally looking over the edge of a 40- to 50-foot dropoff—in a way, a cliff face. You
get to your feet, and it’s that weightless feeling of free-fall. And in those
few moments it’s really this complete, total presence in what you have
to do in order to make that wave.

61

Did you consider not going back to surfing—or at
least not to big-wave surfing—after your accident?
GL: I swore that I would never do it again. It was one of the lowest moments of my life. It was almost as
if the rug of everything I’d built had just been yanked from underneath me. From the age of 15 to 30—
basically 15 years—there was one path for me, and that was this road of riding big waves. It was my life’s
work.
When all that settled, and I was able to kind of remove myself from that emotionally traumatic stage, and
view it from a more rational place, I began to really rethink and reflect on why I was doing this in the first
place. It’s always been my passion to explore this, and where I really feel alive. I wanted to find my physical and mental potential as a human being—that was the avenue by which I was exploring it. So, I decided I was going to go back.

2

I’m still sorting through the pieces and the aftermath of my accident. It’s almost a daily or weekly contradiction of how I feel. There’s a lot to contemplate when you come that close to losing your life. When you
start to think about your friends and family. I know that I’m always going to ride big waves in some form
or another. How, when, why, what’s my motivation—is still settling into place. I’m happy with however it
comes to be, what feels right in my heart. Greg Long:
I hope everybody is doing great. This message is to be shared with the entire surfing community. It is
time to move on and focus our energies in a positive direction.
I have no hard feelings towards Garrett nor do I blame him for what happened to me that day at Cortes. I
have seen the video of our wave, and acknowledge that neither or us were going to successfully make it. I
can easily think of a hundred things that people did that day, including myself, that would have potentially put me in a different place and time on that particular wave. But thinking about such things is a waste
of precious time, energy, and life. I choose to live my life in the present moment. Not in the past and
down a rabbit hole of “what ifs” “could haves” or “should haves”. It was my choice to be out there that day,
and in doing so, I assumed full responsibility for anything that could have happened. There are countless
lessons to be learned from that experience for myself, Garrett, and the entire surfing community. I am
confident these lessons will be taken to heart, and used to better ourselves as we all continue on our paths
of personal and professional growth.
I would once again, like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who were involved in saving my
life. I sincerely appreciate everybody’s comments and concern for my health and well being.
Rest assured, I am living with an even fuller love and appreciation for life than ever before,
and will be back in the water soon.
Love, light, and an abundance of beauty and barrels to you all in the coming year,

Greg

3

Among the many talented and borderline insane big
wave surfers to paddle into the world's largest waves, one
stands out for his many accomplishments both competitively and in breaking new ground. He's surfed one of the
largest and scariest waves in the world, Cortes Bank, and
has both towed and paddled into the behemoth wave. He
is one of the pioneers of paddling into the gargantuan
waves that break off Maui's Pe'ahi reef better known as
the infamous Jaws. He regularly gets barreled at one of
the heaviest beach breaks in the world at Puerto Escondido. Most refer to him as the greatest big wave surfer on
the planet. He is of course Greg Long.
In essence, Long has become the unofficial ambassador
to big wave surfing, and rightfully so. Long is the only
surfer to win all three prestigious big wave surfing contests in the history of the sport. Long was victorious at
the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational in 2009 (Kelly
Slater finished in second), the Maverick's Surf Contest in
2008 and the Red Bull Big Wave Africa contest at Dungeons in 2003.
Long's competitive accomplishments are unmatched, he
handles himself incredibly well, and all in all there is an
overwhelming consensus amongst his peers that Long is
a genuine, good person.
And while Long continues to push the boundaries of big
wave surfing, particularly with paddling, Long has been
making more news lately for his work in the new Hollywood surf film Chasing Mavericks that will be mass
released on October 26th in theaters across the U.S.

57

5

6

DID YOU POST THAT?
At Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Me., admissions officers
are still talking about the high school senior who attended a
campus information session last year for prospective students. Throughout the presentation, she apparently posted
disparaging comments on Twitter about her fellow attendees,
repeatedly using a common expletive.
“It was incredibly unusual and foolish of her to do that,”
Scott A. Meiklejohn, Bowdoin’s dean of admissions and financial aid, told me last week. The college ultimately denied
the student admission, he said, because her academic record
wasn’t competitive. But had her credentials been better, those
indiscreet posts could have scuttled her chances.
“We would have wondered about the judgment of someone
who spends their time on their mobile phone and makes
such awful remarks,” Mr. Meiklejohn said.
As certain high school seniors work meticulously this month
to finish their early applications to colleges, some may not
realize that comments they casually make online could
negatively affect their prospects. In fact, new research from
Kaplan Test Prep, the service owned by the Washington Post
Company, suggests that online scrutiny of college hopefuls is
growing.
Of 381 college admissions officers who answered a Kaplan
telephone questionnaire this year, 31 percent said they had
visited an applicant’s Facebook or other personal social
media page to learn more about them — a five-percentage-point increase from last year. More crucially for those
trying to get into college, 30 percent of the admissions
officers said they had discovered information online that had
negatively affected an applicant’s prospects.
“Students’ social media and digital footprint can sometimes
play a role in the admissions process,” says Christine Brown,
the executive director of K-12 and college prep programs
at Kaplan Test Prep. “It’s something that is becoming more
ubiquitous and less looked down upon.”
In the business realm, employers now vet the online reputations of job candidates as a matter of course. Given the
impulsiveness of typical teenagers, however — not to mention the already fraught nature of college acceptances and
rejections — the idea that admissions officers would covertly
nose around the social media posts of prospective students
seems more chilling.

7

8

There is some reason for concern. Ms. Brown
says that most colleges don’t have formal policies about admissions officers supplementing
students’ files with their own online research. If
colleges find seemingly troubling material online,
they may not necessarily notify the applicants
involved.
“To me, it’s a huge problem,” said Bradley S.
Shear, a lawyer specializing in social media law.
For one thing, Mr. Shear told me, colleges might
erroneously identify the account of a person with
the same name as a prospective student — or
even mistake an impostor’s account — as belonging to the applicant, potentially leading to unfair
treatment. “Often,” he added, “false and misleading content online is taken as fact.”
These kinds of concerns prompted me last week
to email 20 colleges and universities — small
and large, private and public, East Coast and
West Coast — to ask about their practices. Then
I called admissions officials at 10 schools who
agreed to interviews.
Each official told me that it was not routine practice at his or her institution for admissions officers to use Google searches on applicants or to
peruse their social media posts. Most said their
school received so many applications to review
— with essays, recommendations and, often,
supplemental portfolios — that staff members
wouldn’t be able to do extra research online. A
few also felt that online investigations might lead
to unfair or inconsistent treatment.
“As students’ use of social media is growing,
there’s a whole variety of ways that college admissions officers can use it,” Beth A. Wiser, the director of admissions at the University of Vermont,
told me. “We have chosen to not use it as part of
the process in making admissions decisions.”
Other admissions officials said they did not
formally prohibit the practice. In fact, they said,
admissions officers did look at online material
about applicants on an ad hoc basis. Sometimes
prospective students themselves ask an admissions office to look at blogs or videos they have
posted; on other occasions, an admissions official
might look up an obscure award or event mentioned by an applicant, for purposes of

elucidation.
“Last year, we watched some animation videos
and we followed media stories about an applicant who was involved in a political cause,” says
Will Hummel, an admissions officer at Pomona
College in Claremont, Calif. But those were rare
instances, he says, and the supplemental material
didn’t significantly affect the students’ admissions
prospects. Admissions officials also said they had
occasionally rejected applicants, or revoked their
acceptances, because of online materials. Often,
these officials said, a college may learn about
a potential problem from an outside source,
such as a high school counselor or a graduate,
prompting it to look into the matter.

Growing up is one of the most essential times in today’s generation, especially for young adults and teenagers. That’s why
‘Golden’ magazine focuses on the a wide array of topics and
issues in a young adults everyday life, keeping them publicly
aware of the fun activities and entertainment, but as well as
the ways to avoid certain dangers and bad decisions.
Golden is a visually appealing magazine that keeps the youth
updated and informed on their generation whether it be the
hottest place to go for Spring Break or on how to beneﬁnically
save money or be safe going out at a party. Overall, Golden is
the essential survivial guide for this generation.